Snap snap! What are your favourite camera inventions? Thanks to the innovations in camera quality, sizes and durability, we have been able to take photos and videos like never before. We also know this is true due to the rise of creators and amateur film productions on YouTube and the explosiveness of viral content on TikTok and Instagram.
We’ve also seen new and innovative camera products emerge in response to the pandemic and our needs when working from home. Here are some of our favourites from MAKO’s product development studio in Austin.
GoFish Underwater Fishing Camera
At MAKO, we always say a simple design that solves a problem in a high-quality way is often the best one. Designed and developed by our product development studio in Austin, the GoFish accomplishes exactly that. So, it’s no wonder it became an instant hit on Kickstarter a few years ago.
The GoFish is a simple, compact underwater fishing camera that sits on your fishing line and pairs with a smartphone app. The GoFish’s 170-degree wide-angle lens and built-in microphone let you capture beautiful underwater sights and sounds. Thanks to the infrared technology surrounding the camera, you can even record in low-light conditions. You can record up to four hours of footage on a MicroSD and transfer your videos wirelessly through WiFi on your phone.
KODAK Printomatic Instant Print Camera
Do you remember back in the day when our library of photos was in an actual album and not on your phone? Or am I just showing my age? In any case, MAKO’s product development studio in Austin thinks that there’s something to be said about having a physical photo that you can hold and touch. Indeed, the photos that we store in our wallets stick up on the wall in a collage or framed elegantly to display around the apartment just seem to be extra special. Thankfully, Kodak has made it easier than ever to print out physical photos.
Kodak’s Printomatic allows you to print two-by-three-inch photos directly from your camera without any ink. Instead, it uses ZINK, short for zero ink, photo paper to recreate vibrant full-color images. Colour dye crystals are embedded right into the paper. The camera uses heat to activate and colourize these crystals to recreate your photo! All you need to do is to point, shoot and print! And if you’ve run out of paper refills, don’t fret, there’s a MicroSD slot to store your photos as well. It’s a great gift for the holidays or for your next vacation!
Meeting Owl Pro
Our product development studio in Austin thinks this 360-degree camera design is an absolute hoot. Aptly named the owl for its elongated shape, this is a great companion for students and those working from home. Along with the 360-degree camera, the Meeting Owl Pro also includes a microphone and speaker for all your meeting needs.
The 360-degree camera means you don’t need to worry about where you place the device, even if you have multiple people in the same room – even if it’s a large room. It uniquely picks up on audio up to 18 feet away and automatically identifies and zooms in on the person who is talking. Of course, it integrates seamlessly with Zoom, Google Meet, Slack and other favorite meeting apps. No wonder it was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2020!
About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!